Re: Rocker Panel Removal and Detail.
Originally Posted by Glockhit
I am trying to remove my side panels as per your instructions/photo's. I have been able to remove all the screws and bolts except the 4 jack puck screws. One of them is stripped, which makes it even worst. The others turn but do nothing else.
If I was working with my CF on a lift I could see what I'm doing better. This just adds to the confusion.I can't get the screws to unscrew. There is no room for me to pry them under the screw lip. They sit flush within the jack puck.
Do you know why they are not coming out. Is there another way to get them to move. If I could get them started I could slide a panel popper between the screw and the surface of the puck.
Today was one of those rare days with low humidity and cool air. Great day to work on the car.
Next week will be in the 100's and humid again. What started out easy became impossible.
I have got the pucks off, to do this I applied a downward pressure on the puck by levering it against the underside of the rocker panel and turning the screw. The screw came out enough for me to grab it with my fingers and pull it out. The screws will not be stripped, they have a very strong thread so do not worry about that, they need the downward pressure on the puck to get them to grip and turn out. Do not apply pressure upward on these two screws as they will just turn and give you the impression that they are stripped. Keep the screwdriver in the slot and turn, with no upward pressure you will see the screw start to come out.
I pulled the panel straight out at the ends, with caution abandoned to the wind they popped out.
The cold weather makes these snaps quite stiff and two clips of the five on the door sill broke. When they warmed up in the house they are quite flexible, too late for the broken clips though.
The painted screws mentioned in the first post only align the pucks and do not act as screws, they are just locating pins.
The plastic screws that are in the pucks expand the end of an insert that the screw goes into that catches behind the chassis. The insert slides up and down in the puck and the screw pulls the expanded jaws against the inside of the chassis. It is tough to explain but obvious when you see it.
The front and rear clips snap into slots in the top edge of the rocker panel.
The five clips that are in the door sill (#05101311-AA, Mercedes#A 170 988 08 78) are attached to the rocker panel before assembly and not inserted in the sill with the rocker panel being pressed into them, as they will not engage properly. When removing the rocker panel these clips should be lifted out of the holes in the body as vertically as possible and they will snap out of the holes in the body with no breakage still attached to the rocker panel.
Last edited by onehundred80; Mar 12, 2010 at 08:03 PM.